Container caps



Nov. 12, 1963 H. T. PEHR CONTAINER CAPS Filed Feb. 21, 1962 INVENTOR.Ha/v/d T Pfi/ ATTOEN United States Patent 3,11%,41i1 QGNTAENER CAPSHarold T. iehr, 637 E. 72nd Terrace, Kansas City, Mo. Filed 21, 1962,Ser. No. 174,859 7 fllaims. (@Cl. 215-70) This invention relates to capsfor containers and has particular reference to such types of containersas are employed for dispensing tooth paste or similar compositions.

An object of my invention is to provide an improvement in container capsby means of which the cap is always attached to the neck of thecontainer and is thereby prevented from being inadvertently separatedfrom the container and lost.

Another object of my invention is to provide such a non-removable capwhich is simple of construction and easily operated.

Another object is to provide such a non-removable cap which may be fullyopened.

These and other objects and advantages will appear trorn the followingdescniption taken in connection with the drawings.

The invention comprises the novel construction and operation of partshereinafter described and more particularly pointed out and defined inthe appended claims. In the accompanying drawings which illustrate apreferred embodiment of this invention and in which similar referencenumerals refer to similar features in the different views:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective drawing of a container and capembodying my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a central vertical section of the container with the cap inclosed position.

FIGURE 3 is a central vertical section of the con- Q tainer with the capin open position.

FIGURE 4 is a central vertical section of a container and cap employinga variation of my invention.

In the drawings represents a container which may be formed of glass,plastic, metal or other material and of conventional construction.Container 10 has at its upper end an open neck 11, which has a series ofexternal threads 12. At one side of neck 11 there is a vertical recess13 containing a series of horizontal serrations 14 on its inner surface.

The closure mechanism consists of a cap 15 and a nut 16. Cap 15 containsa series of external horizontal threads 17, which are the same size asthreads 12, and align with threads 12 when cap is in closed position.Above threads 17 the diameter of cap 15 is enlarged, forming a lip orstop 18. Cap 15 also carries a downward depending L-shaped arm 19. Arm19 contains horizontal serrations 21 on its inner and bottom surfaces.Serrations 29 are of the same size as serrations 14, so as to meshtogether when in contact. Cap 15 is made of polypropylene or otherhighly flexible material.

Nut 16 has internal horizontal threading 21 of the same size as threads12 and 17, and has the same internal diameter as the external diameterof container neck 1-1, so that threads 21 will coincide with threads 12and '17 when cap and nut are assembled on container. Nut 16 carriesvertical knurling 22 on its outer surface.

To assemble the device, cap 15 is placed on top of container 11} so thatarm 19 rests in recess 13, with the serrations 21} on the vertical faceof arm 19 meshing with serrations 14 on inner surface of recess 13. Nut15 is then placed over cap 15 and forced downward over lip 18. Nut 16 isthen turned slightly so that cap 15 is in the closed position shown inFIGURE 2.

To open the cap, nut 16 is screwed downward, knurling 22 providingconvenient purchase for the fingers. As nut 3 ,1 lhgild' Patented Nov.12, 1953 16 moves downward, the lower surface of nut 16 will bearagainst L-shaped arm 19, causing its lower, or horizontal portion toflatten out and to enter recess 13. In this position arm 19 iscompletely vertical and fills recess 13. As nut 16 is screwed furtherdownward into the lowest position, as shown in FIGURE 3, the top of nut16 passes below the bend in L-shaped arm 19, and the upper portion ofthe arm being thus released, arm 1% tends to return to its normalL-shape, the resilience of the plastic material lifting cap 1-5 into theopen position as also shown in FIGURE 3.

To close the container, the movement of nut '16 is reversed and it isscrewed upward, first flattening out arm 19 and then permitting thelower portion of arm 19 to snap back to its horizontal position, asshown in FIGURE 2. To obtain a tight closure nut 16 is moved upwarduntil further movement is prevented by lip 18. It will be seen that themeshing of serrations 14 and 2 9 will be in at least partial contact atall times, thereby securing cap 15 to container 10. It will also benoted that in the closed position, internal threads 21 of nut 16 meshboth with the threads -17 of cap 15 and the threads 12 of container,thereby tightly securing the cap against dislodgement.

FIGURE 4 illustrates a modification of my novel cap. In thismodification recess 13 in neck '11 does not have its inner faceserrated, but instead there is a horizontal, semi-cylindrical groove orindentation 23 located approximately at the middle of said inner face.Cap 15 is also modified, in that L-shaped arm 18 does not haveserrations on its inner surface, but instead at the junction of the twoarms of the L there is a semi-cylindrical ridge 24 of a size to fit ingroove 23. It is apparent that the meshing of ridge 24- and groove 23serves to prevent removal of the cap, remaining in meshed position asnut 16 moves upward or downward.

It will be apparent from the preceding description that I have provideda non-removable container cap having many advantageous features whichhave been pointed out. Other features will be apparent from the drawingand the appended claims. Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim is:

1. A container and closure comprising a container having a threadedneck, a threaded cap, an arm downward depending from said cap, a recessin said neck adapted to receive said downward depending arm, means forretaining said arm in said recess, an internally threaded not adapted toengage the threads of said cap and said neck and means for tilting saidcap into an open position while retaining said arm in said recess.

2. In combination, a container having an externally threaded neck, anexternally threaded cap, an L-shaped arm downward depending from saidcap, a recess in said neck adapted to receive said downward dependingarm, honizontal serrations on said arm, horizontal serrations in saidrecess in meshing relation with said first serrations, and an internallythreaded nut adapted to engage the threads of said cap and said neck.

3. A container and closure comprising a container having a threadedneck, a threaded cap, a vertical arm downward depending from said cap, arecess in said neck adapted to receive said downward depending arm,means for retaining said arm in said recess, an internally threaded nutadapted to engage the threads of said cap and said neck and a horizontalarm extending outward from said vertical arm, below said nut.

4. In combination, a container having a threaded neck, a threaded cap, aflexible L-shaped arm downward depending from said cap, a recess in saidneck adapted to receive said downward depending arm, horizontalserrations on said arm, horizontal serrations in said recess in meshingrelation with said first serrations, and a threaded nut adapted toengage the threads of said cap and said neck, and a horizontal armextending outward from said vertical arrn, below said nut.

5. in combination, a container having a threaded neck, a threaded cap, aflexible L-shaped downward depending arm on said cap, a recess in saidneck adapted to receive said downward depending arm, means for retainingsaid arm in said recess, and a threaded nut adapted to engage thethreads of said cap and said neck.

6. In combination, a container having a neck, a cap, a flexible L-shapedarm downward depending from said cap, said arm having a vertical leg anda horizontal leg extending outward from the lower end of said verticalleg, a recess in said neck adapted'to receive said vertical leg, meansfor retaining said arm in said recess, a collar adapted to surround saidneck and said cap, a lip on said cap confining the upward movement ofsaid collar, said adapted to receive said downward depending arm, withsaid horizontal leg of said arm extending outward of said ecess, meansfor retaining said arm in said recess, and an internally threaded nutadapted to engage the threads of said cap and said neck, and to bear onsaid horizontal leg when screwed downward.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSGilliland Feb. 1, 1938 McDonald Mar. 5, 1940

4. IN COMBINATION, A CONTAINER HAVING A THREADED NECK, A THREADED CAP, AFLEXIBLE L-SHAPED ARM DOWNWARD DEPENDING FROM SAID CAP, A RECESS IN SAIDNECK ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID DOWNWARD DEPENDING ARM, HORIZONTALSERRATIONS ON SAID ARM, HORIZONTAL SERRATIONS IN SAID RECESS IN MESHINGRELATION WITH SAID FIRST SERRATIONS, AND A THREADED NUT ADAPTED TOENGAGE THE THREADS OF SAID CAP AND SAID NECK, AND A HORIZONTAL ARMEXTENDING OUTWARD FROM SAID VERTICAL ARM, BELOW SAID NUT.